Rockettes Will Not Be Forced to Dance for Trump

Trump really can’t get anyone to perform for the inauguration.

The Radio City Rockettes are booked to perform at the inauguration joining the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and a girl who got 5th place on America’s Got Talent at some point. Almost everyone else in the world has said no and apparently even Trump won’t stoop to Kid Rock or Ted Nugent levels.

But many of the Rockettes are not pleased to be a part of the ceremony. After many complaints about not wanting to perform for Trump, their union, AGVA, sent this email:

“We have received an email from a Rockette expressing concern about getting ‘involved in a dangerous political climate’ but I must remind you that you are all employees, and as a company, [James Dolan, executive chairman of The Madison Square Garden Company] obviously wants the Rockettes to be represented at our country’s Presidential inauguration, as they were in 2001 & 2005. Any talk of boycotting this event is invalid, I’m afraid…This has nothing to do with anyone’s political leanings (including AGVA’s), it has to do with your best performance for your employer, period.”

First of all, it’s funny that they only performed at Bush inaugurations, then took a little break once Obama hit office. Now that we’re back to the right, their schedule opened up again. How non political!

So, after getting no sympathy from their union or employers, some Rockettes took to social media to give the company a public shaming. The story began to spread prompting responses like this:

It looks like Facebook is good for something, cause now the union has backpedaled, saying the performance will be voluntary. Madison Square Garden release this statement.

“The Radio City Rockettes are proud to participate in the 58th Presidential Inaugural. For a Rockette to be considered for an event, they must voluntarily sign up and are never told they have to perform at a particular event, including the inaugural. It is always their choice. In fact, for the coming inauguration, we had more Rockettes request to participate than we have slots available. We eagerly await the inaugural celebrations.”

Hmm, it sounds a bit odd that they had too many volunteers, yet had to first threaten everyone with losing their jobs if they didn’t perform. But whatever. At least women won’t be forced to be there and everyone can enjoy a 3 person Rockette kickline.